Hat cleaning machine



April 11, 1933.

HAT CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @Ww 'I M. A. wElTzMAN 1,903,489 Y Apri-l 11; 1933- M. A. wElTzMAN 1,903,489

HAT CLEANING MACHINE Filed sept. 29, 19:50 4 Sheets-sheet 2 April 11, 15933.

M A. wElTzMAN 1,903,489

HAT CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 11, 1933. M A. wElTzMAN 1,903,489

HAT CLEANING MACHINE Filed sept. 29, 1930 4 Sheets-sheet 4 CII Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED STATES MORRIS A. WEITZMAN, OF CHICAGO, IILINISv Y Y HAT CLEANING MACHINE Application med september 29, 1930. serial No. 484,977.-

This invention relates in general to a hat cleaning machine and more particularly to a method and apparatus for cleaning and ironinghats. 1

An important object `of the invention is to provide a method of cleaning hats of materials such as felt and the like in which the cleaning fluid is mechanically extracted from the `hat after cleaning oneXtracted by centrifugal force so that much less time will be required for drying the hats and so that the cleaning fluid will not be wasted and may be used repeatedly'and will not evaporate t0 permeate the surrounding atmosphere to the r eXtent'that fires or explosions may take place or that the air would be disagreeable for an operator to breathe.

Another important object is to provide mechanism for accomplishing the above mentioned result and for accomplishingithat result efficiently and economically.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel, mechanically simple and efficient mechanical ironing device or apparatus for ironing hats and the like.

Another important object is to provide a simple and efficient hat holding spindle for hat cleaning machines and the like and such a device which may be used for holding hats through crown blocks or stretchers and the like. f f

'Another important object is to provide a simple machine embodying all of the above mentioned features which may be produced and'distributed at a low cost.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is. better Vunderstoodfrom the following description, which7 taken in connection with the accom` panyin'g drawings, discloses a preferred'embodiment thereof.

Referringpto the drawings Figure 1is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig12 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of one of the hat holding spindles with portions broken away to' show details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a plan view` of the spindle shown in Fig. 3 having Va hat stretcher attached thereto. f V,1 1f Y. Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5-7-5 in Fig. 4 and illustrating thel con- .55 nection. r T

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view ofthe iron controlling and supporting devices shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away to show details of construction. i 00 Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectiontaken substanf tially on line` 7 7 in Fig. 6 Vand' illustrating the yielding and reciprocating connection.

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the lde- "vices shown in Fig..6 or viewing Fig. 6 from 1.05

the right and clearly showing the plate support and brackets. V1 n i Fig. 9 is` an elevational view of a brirnA block and illustrating the action of the plate and iron extension in ironinga curledbrim, and,"m Fig. 10 is anenlarged view of a ,preferred form of the iron extension.devicelortooL To illustrate the invention If have shown a .frame 11,'hat spindles 12 and 13, atank 01- J inclosure 14, an ironing mechanism and 75 'fa power means or vmotor 16. j

While the frame 11 may be cast ofmetal or constructed of wood or the like, for simplicity I Vhave shown a vframe built up of standard pipe and ttings. The ordinary essentials of the frame 11 are standards or uprights 17 n for supporting a benchlike top 18 anda tank supporting plate 19, and lcross connectors or braces V20,21 and 22. The pipes are or may be connected as in-dicated by means of pipe T185 ttings 23 and pipe flanges 24 mayV provided `for the ends of the pipes andv for con- ,Y nection tothe top 18 and plate 19. Y

It is an object of the inventionto extract the cleaning liquid from the hats mechanical-` f ly and preferably by centrifugal force and to accomplish thisthe spindle 12 isarranged to spin the hat until the liquid isthrowrroff.V To conserve the liquid for further use the spin-V dle 12 is arranged in the inclosure 14. The 95 spin-dle 12 preferably includes a lcentral shaft 25 rotatably mounted in a bearing bracket 26 and provided with a fixed antifriction thrust collar 2 7. 'Companion antifriction bearing collars or rings 28 and 29 are mounted in .the 1100 y 33, a friction pan 34 preferably having a curved friction face 35 and a hub 36, bored n to lit the shaftv 25 and the enlarged head 33 as indicated, is mounted over the shaft and head and through keys 37 working in slots 38 relative aXial movement of the pan 34 is permitted and a driving connection is eected.

HA'spring 39 extending between the plate 19 .y andan antifriction Vbearing collar 40 normally holds Vthe pan34 against the enlarged head 33 'as shown, A(Fig. 1).. The bearing 26 isjrigidly secured to the frame through the plate K19 by means of rivets 4l or the like.`

'The inclosure 14 is preferably a sheet meti I' al tank 42, andv cover 43. The `tank 42 is or may be substantially cylindrical and is prosuitable extension shaft or the like upon vided withacurled flange 44 at its upper end l and Vwith Aa suitable sealed bottom 45. The

vb'ottoml45 is formed to provide a supporting rim 57 and an upwardly Vtapered flash porktion 47 in which the cap 30 is tightly pressed.

iii-'40.* nular band 54l is securedin the flanged cover A drain tube 48 isor may be provided and secured to the bottom or as indicated through which the cleaning liquid may be removed Y, from the tank`42 after settling and for furand to eXtend from the curled edge 52 thereof to form a depending locating flange for -enlg'aging in theita'nk 42 when the cover 43 is reversed. The band 54 also forms the side walls of a receptacle 55 in rwhich hats may be brushed with` cleaning liquid or cleaned.

.An opening or drain tube 56 is provided through whichl the cleaning liquid is drained intofthe tank 42. A partition 57'is arranged to extend acrossvand divide the receptacle 55 to provi-de a well 58 in which a quantity'of cleaning liquidmay be stored for immediate USS. v

S-5 Power is transmitted to the spindle 12 from theV motor 16 through a shaft 60 extending i from the motor and past the'pa'n 345and a friction Wheel 6,1l formedV on a' hub 62which is longitudinally-shiftable along Va squared A670 'or non-circular portion 63 of the shaft 60.

"through a control handle 64 having a bifur- Vcated endn 'engaging the hub 62.-

The position of the wheel`61 isadjustable The squared endof the shaft 60 is supported in 'bushings 66 rotatably mounted in the braces The spindle 13 may be any suitable shaft or the like upon which a hat block and hat may be mounted or secured and in the pres-V ent embodiment includes a shaft 67 rotatably mounted in an end thrust bearing 68 and in a bearing plate 69 secured' to the top 18 by means of bolts 70 or the like. free end 71 of the shaft 67 is preferab-ly tapered or formed to support and rotate a hat holding spindle 72 or the like, orto support a hat block direct'.

The shaft 67 may be rotated from the mo-` tor 16 in any suitable manner and in the present instance I provide a belt drive in- V cluding a pulley 73 suitably secured to the shaft 67, a similar and smaller pulley 74 suitably secured tothe shaft60 and a belt 75 arrangedy about thev pulleys 73 and 74 and over one or more idler pulleys 76 which may be carried by` a bracket or link 77 pivoted on a support 78. A spring 79 through the link 77 provides" the belt 75. Y l

The hat holding spindle 72 may be `any which a hat block indicated by lines 80 and The top or a means for taking up slack in 81, (Fig. 1) may be mounted. The lines80 and 81 indicate the long and short diameters respectively of a hat crown block.

The preferred form of the spindles 72 and' VV32 is a central shaft 82, (Figsl 1, 34 and 5) formed to provide a threaded extension 83 of reduced diameter. f A; disc or plate 84 is mounted` over the threaded extension and securedrto the shaft 82 by meansofa nut 85 engaging the threaded yextension 83. A chuck member 86 adapted to engage in a bore 87v in a hat block 88 is drilled and tapped to engage the threaded" extension 83.y lSimilarly the threaded extension may be lthreaded into an `adjusting member 89 of a hatholder or stretcher 90 to clamp parts 91 and 92y thereof against the plate-V84 for holding a hatV mounted on the stretcher. i f

The lowerrend of.V the spindles 32 and 72 are formed in accordance with the spindles 12 and`13. The spindle 32in the Vpresent instance is formed Ato fit in the socket 31 and drilledr to jreceivev .a latchpin 93 mounted in a Icarrier 94 which is* secured/to the lshaft 25.v The spindleV 72 is rectly on the end 71 of the shaft67' and a ,with support and control apparatus for shifting ormoving the YplatelOl about a hat like.

block carried by the spindle 72 or onl the block 96. This apparatus in the present embodiment includes a pivoted or hinged bracket 102 formed of spaced links 103 secured together by spacers 104and 105 and pivotally connected to depending arms 106 formed on the bracket 69 through suitable shoulder bolts Vbars 111 are hingedly connected to 1the ends of the links' 103 through a bolt 114 and at the other end these bars are similarly connected to the bracket 109 through asuitable bolt 115.V A tension spring `116 normally holds the link 108 against a stop provided by an adjustable plate 117 which is secured to the links 103 by means of s-crews 118 or the Similar tension springs 119 engaging pins 120 on the casting'109 and pins 121 carried by the bars 111 normally urge the plate in a clockwise direction. (Viewing Fig. 6.) Stop pins 122 engage the bars 111 to limit the clockwise movement of the'plate.

The mechanismV for actuating or moving the plate 101 in the present embodiment includes a connecting rod or link 125 and suitable transmission devices for reciprocating the link 125. The link 125 is hingedly connected to an eccentric collar or- Vring 126 through a pin `127 and yieldingly connected to the bracketl102 through the spacer 105. (Figs. 6 and 7.)

Annular colla-rs 128 are formed on the spacer 105 for aligning the link 125.- The spacer 105 is. arranged in a slot 129 in the link 125 and is urged to the left end of the slot by means of tension springs 130 and 131 engaging the spacer 105 and the pin 127. At the opposite end, theV slot 129 is offset to provide a stop shoulder 132, and an end of f the link 125 is extended-to provide aV handle In order to insure operation ofthe plate 101 in timed relation to the rotarymovement of the hats or of the shaft 67 I prefer to obtain power for operating the plate directly from the shaft-67 and to accomplish this I provide a clutch member 140 arranged for sliding movement on the shaft 67 and eX- tending into a bearing hub 141 of the bracket 69. This clutch member is suitably slotted to receive a key 142 which is mounted in the shaft 67 and engages a companion clutch member 143 through ratchet teeth 144 or the 1 like. VThe companion clutch member 143 also provides a spur gear pinion 145 which meshes with a gear 146 carrying a pinion 147 meshing witha gear 148 carrying a pinion 149 and meshing with a gear 150 to which an,V eccentric 151 is secured by means of a rivet 152 or the like. The gear 146 carrying the pinion 147 and thegear 150 carrying the eccentric 151 are rotatably mounted on a shoulder stud or stub shaft 153 secured to the bracket 69 adjacent the shaft 67 by means of a nut 154. An vendv support-is provided for the stub shaft 153 by a tie vlink 155 enaging the shafts 153gand 67 as indicated,

l(Fig. 6). ,A guard plate 156 is or may bey provided for retaining the eccentric ring 126.

A collar 157 suitably pinned to theshaft cooperating with suitable spacers and a flange 158 formed on the clutch member V143 holds the geari148 with the-pinion 149 andthe clutch member 143 in axial alignment on the.

shaft 67. Y i The motor 16 is or Amay be suitably secured to a plate 181 which is suitably secured to the frame 11 and maybe controlledby a suitable switch 182.

Av hat to be cleaned is placed on thel surface provided by the bottom ofthe receptaclel l55, cleaning liquid from the well 58v is applied-to the hat and Vbrushed in, the eX- cess liquid being .drained off through .thel

opening 56. After cleaning the hat is placed on the stretcher 90. or a suitable holder and mounted on the spindle 32. The spindle. 32 is then assembled to' the shaft 25 withthe the motor 16 running thei operating or control handle 64 is pulled out or 'to the left, (Fig. 1) bringing the friction wheel 61 into engagement with the frictionsurface 35 of `the disc or pan 34 thus starting rotation of the shaft 25 and hat. As the handle 64 is moved farther to the left the rotary speed of the shaft 25 increases and as the wheel 61 movesk under the pan'34the spring 39 pact# ing against the pan increases the frictional" engagement in proportion to the increased driving strain and the rotary speed of the kshaft 25maybe brought up to and beyond motor speed, thus effecting a mechanical 'elimination of cleaning liquid from the hat 105 and the plate 101-is manipulated to en` 'gage the hat just above the brimby means of the handle 113. An operating lever 161 lpivotally mounted on a bracket 162 on the top 18 and having a bifurcated end 163 engaging in an annular groove-164 inthe clutch i latch pin 93 engaging the spindle 32, with4 100 The ironing.- mechanism member 140 is then actuated to connect the clutch members 140 and 143V through their teeth144 and through the gears 145, 146, 147,

' `148, 149 and 150 and the eccentric 151 the link 125 is slowly reciprocated yieldingly moving the bracket 102, the plate 101 and the'associated parts toward the axis ofthe shaft 67 and to the position shown in dotted lines, (Fig. 6). In moving to the dotted position the plate 101 rolls about the hat from a Substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal position and returns in one cycle lof operation or one rotation of the eccentric 151,..thus ironing the entire surface ofthe hat while it-is rotated by the spindle 13. This operation may be repeated several times upon occasion. Afterironing the crown the -bracket 102 is again latched in retracted or 1 videdv having a plunger 191 pivotally secured to .the ironing plate 101 and a fluid ychamber or cylinder 192 similarly secured `to the spacer 104, the dash pot being adapted to resist sudden retracting movement of the plate 101.

F or ironing the hat brim the support or block 96 which may be'of any suitable type is arranged on the shaft 67 and an extension tool or brim curling tool 170 which is preferably `arranged to Vinterlockingly engage the plate 101 is assembled thereto. The

plate is' then brought into contact with the work as shown, (Fig. 9) and the ironing operation repeated as for the crown to iron and curl the brim. Y

.The tool 17 0 may be provided with a pair :of keys or ribs 171 for engaging in keyways 172 formed in the plate r101 or may be dovetailed or otherwise connected thereto and is Vprovided with an ironing point orjlip 173 and ai' suitable handle 17 4; This tool is'heated indirectly by the plate 101.: The plate 101 may be heated in any suitable manner and inthe 4present embodiment I have indicated an electrical conductor 175 yandconnecter 176 'through which current may be supplied to an inclosed electric heating element. y

It is thought'that the invention and many (of itsattendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the Yspirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all -of its material advantages, thev form herein-before described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof. ,K

Iclaimz"Y 1. Mechanism for ironing hats and the like comprising, a hat block, a spindle forsupyporting said block, means for rotating the spindle, an ironing plate arranged for movement about the hat block, a pivoted carrier yfor said ironing plate', transmissiondevices associated'with said spindle, anda reciprocating link yieldingly connecting said carrierk 'block to effect ironing,.of means `for controllingthe ironing plate including, avertically arranged pivotedbracket, a laterally extendingvlinkhingedly connected with said bracket and similarly connected with said plate adi acent an edge thereof, said plate and saidl linkhavinga folding action as'an incident to movement-,of the plate toward the axis of said rotatable spindle, spring means for resisting the folding action of said link and said ironing plate, and means for yieldingly actuating said link and said ironing plate through lsaid vertically arranged bracket. f

3. In an ironing vdevicefor hatsand the like the combination with a hat crown iron of, a detachable extension iron for operating onthehatbrim. I l' f I 4. vIn an ironing device for hats and the like the combination with a hat crown iron'of arbrim curlingiron interlockingly connected with said crown iron and heated thereby.

' 5.-In a device of the character described the combination with, a hat block, a rotatable spindle for supporting the block, and an ironing plate, adapted for movement about said block lto effect ironing, of means for controlling the ironing plate including, a pivoted bracket, a link connectingysaid bracket and saidplate, means associated therewith whereby said plate is yieldingly reciprocated toward and away from the axis of said 'spindle and simultaneously rotated about an axis extending through said link, and a dash pot device connecting said ironing plateand` f said pivoted bracket for controlling said plate. s Y

6. In a'hat finishingmachine the combination with an ironing device and a carrier frame arranged toxyieldingly supportV the ironing device for ironing operations and to direct movement thereof, of mechanical lmeans having a longitudinally yielding driving connection with said carrier frame whereby said ironingl device is moved to execute a predetermined cycle of operation subject .t

dimensional variations ofvhats. f c v MORRIS. A. WEIrlZllZIpAN.'v 

